HAF Programme

HAF PROGRAMME

Holiday Activities and Food Programme (HAF):Research has shown that the school holidays can be pressure points for some families. For some children, this can lead to a holiday experience gap, with children from low-income households being:less likely to access organised out-of-school activitiesmore likely to experience ‘unhealthy holidays’ in terms of nutrition and physical healthmore likely to experience social isolationThe HAF programme is a response to this issue, with evidence showing that free holiday clubs can have a positive impact on children and young people and that they work best when they:provide consistent and easily accessible enrichment activitiescover more than just breakfast or lunchinvolve children (and parents) in food preparationuse local partnerships and connections, particularly with the voluntary and community organisation sectorWithin Merton, SMSC is part of a community of over 30 main providers building over 1,000 places for children and young people to receive free school meals.During summer 2022 we ran a large programme based at St Mark’s Church of England Academy and have now expanded to 3 venues for the October half term with further venues planned for summer 2023 offering places to over 100 children in the Merton borough.HAF PROGRAMMEPLEASE COME BACK SOON FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT OUR OCTOBER HALF-TERM CAMPS